INSECT COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY IN THE ECOLOGICAL STATION OF UNIVERSITY OF JOS

Insect diversity and abundance play significant roles in the functioning of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Thus a study was carried out to investigate the composition and abundance of insects, as well as comparing their diversity in the Ecological station of the University of Jos. Four different sampling techniques were employed, namely: Pitfall traps, Butterfly baited traps, sweep net, and manual collection. The Composition and diversity of insects’ species in the ecological station of the University of Jos showed a total number of 1424 individuals of insects belonging to10 Orders and 39 species were collected and identified. There was a significant difference in the abundance of Insect Species. Odorous House ants (Tapinoma sessiles), Sugar ants (Camponotus consobrinus) and Carpenter Ants (Camponotus pensylvanicus) were the most abundant species of insects collected. There was a significant difference in the distribution of insect orders. The distribution revealed that Hymenoptera had the highest number of species, followed Diptera and Lepidoptera. There was also a significant difference between Insect Order and their types of wings, legs and antennae. The Shannon Weiner Diversity Index (H) differs significantly between different species in the Ecological Station. Tapinoma sessile is the most diverse species followed by Camponotus consobrinus and Camponotus pennsylvanicus. The diversity of Tapinoma sessile is a consequence of the greater complexity of vegetation structure, which creates a greater variety of niches for a wider range of Tapinoma sessile .Therefore, adequate protection of the Ecological Station should be carried out to curb anthropogenic activities such as refuse dumping and defecating thereby promoting Insects’ abundance.